Profits fell, but dividends have resisted. Despite the fall in profits last year, the CAC 40 companies will total $ 36 billion in dividends to their shareholders this year (in respect of 2009 results). "It's almost as much as in 2008, and it shows the willingness of companies to retain their shareholding," says Sonia Bonnet-Bernard, associate-manager Ricol Lasteyrie, who yesterday presented the fourth financial profile done by the CAC 40 firm.
The payout ratio (the amount of dividends compared to profits) has jumped to 90% (excluding Arcelor Mittal) in 2008 against 48% or 42% in 2007. Only four groups have decided not to pay: EADS, PSA, Renault and Alcatel Lucent.
The corporate largesse is all the more surprising they have not hesitated in the same time, to launch capital increase to finance themselves.More than a quarter of the CAC 40 companies have used the market last year to strengthen their capital, notes Ricol Lasteyrie. In total, shareholders might have paid 24 billion euros. "Companies that take on debt, make capital increases or selling assets … while maintaining their dividends, that has always existed. But for two years, it shows a little more often, "says Moudy El Khidr, portfolio manager at ING IM. In Europe, however, few companies have debts to pay their shareholders. They preferred the issue of new shares.
The Regulatory Commission (CRE) had just agreed to the request of GDF Suez to raise gas prices as of July 1. They grow by 4.7%, bringing the increase to nearly 15% since the beginning of the year. Although this further increase was expected, the household energy bill begins to weigh.
However, Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, warned Friday that gas prices will not move until 1 January. Consumers will escape upwards so that additional sketched already by 1 October – the price revision is now making quarterly.
The "pause" as required by the Minister is made on behalf of a review of the formula currently allows GDF Suez to calculate its rates. In spring, the regulator had already begun an audit. It will therefore continue, before the drawing, probably new method of calculation.Knowing that GDF Suez is currently conducting a number of renegotiations with producer countries. "I hope that the CRE do an audit of this formula because I'm quite surprised at the speed of execution and I wish that as a result of this audit, we determine if the formula is good," said Christine Lagarde Friday on France Inter.
"The current tariff is not obsolete, but it can be optimized," says one expert dossier.In discussion, the long-term contracts underlying the supply of GDF Suez (with key suppliers such as Russia, Algeria and Norway), while the spot price of gas fall very weakly into account in calculating the formula.
The government takes the hand
"On a more general issue is whether to continue to index the price of oil on gas prices, even though overproduction of gas worldwide has resulted in a fall prices, "says one expert. However, increased consideration of market prices in the establishment of the formula may increase the volatility of rates. In all cases, the balance is difficult to find.
For the government, the record price of gas remains thorny.Early this year he thought he had found a solution by entrusting exclusively to the regulator, on the proposal of GDF SUEZ, the task of settling. But after two significant increases in quick succession, the government, well aware of the unpopular side of the increases among the public, are now forced to return to the game
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. stock market watchdog, said it had initiated proceedings for fraud against Goldman Sachs. The U.S. bank would have hid crucial facts about financial products affected by the subprime crisis. Fraud concerns the structuring of CDOs ("collateralized debt obligations) linked to subprime subprime.
Goldman Sachs action was immediately heavily impacted by this lawsuit.Around 17h35, the title fell by almost 14% to 160.3 dollars, bringing in its wake many financial stocks and the major world indices no fax pay day loans.
The SEC accused the bank and one of its vice-presidents, Fabrice Tourre to have misled investors by concealing important facts about the financial product concerned, while the U.S. housing market began to deteriorate.
At 15h GMT, Goldman Sachs yielded 9.7%. The KBW index of U.S. banking sector shrank at the same time 3.5% and the Stoxx European sector gave up 1.8%.
Wall Street widened its losses, the Standard & Poor's 500 yielding 1%.
The biotechs have to score again in stock. As proof, the imminent introduction of Neovacs Deinove and Alternext. Neovacs biotechnology company specializing in immunotherapy (arthritis, Crohn's disease), has extended the period of fifteen days to subscribe for its shares to raise 20 million euros. Deinove, which relies both on green fuels and the production of antibiotics, is preparing to collect 15 million in late April.
"The thrill of the financial markets is clear. The companies that have promising products, attractive valuations and are focusing on big markets again become interesting, "says Dr. Philippe Pouletty, General Partner of Truffle Capital and Honorary Chairman of France Biotech. It was time. Since 2007, this funding, essential for the biotechs, was dry.
Partnerships and acquisitions
The resumption date of late 2009.In November, the biotech NicOx has managed to collect 100 million euros. "Five to six biotech could go public by 2010," predicts Philippe Pouletty. This could be the case Carmat, further participation of Truffle Capital, which is developing an artificial heart, then AB Science, which addresses mastocytosis, a rare disease no teletrack payday loans.
The crisis has not resulted in catastrophe for the biotechs. The decline in venture capital funding has been limited to 25%. The biotech, which have little recourse to debt, were not affected by the closure of the credit tap. At the same time, they took advantage of the growing interest of pharmaceutical companies, forced to look outward to compensate for their lack of internal creativity. The labs have multiplied in recent months partnerships and takeovers."Biotechnology and the green industry are two huge sectors globally. France and the investors have an incentive to participate in this growth, "said Philippe Pouletty. But investors are not always what you. "The performance of biotech on the Paris market is not attractive enough," lamented Francis Deneux, the firm Arthur D. Little. Without doubt, as these start-ups are often financed by public funds including, with "too little selectivity. This leaves the "not enough money for the best of them."
At 24 hours of his arrival on the market, the iPad fever is at its height in the United States. If you believe the answer to preorders which started March 12, the new creation from Apple sensation. The first stocks are already exhausted, those who have not ordered their iPad before this week will receive nine days late, on April 12. Apple, which does not communicate its presales, would not produce enough to meet demand. On Saturday, the tablet will be available in Apple stores and Best Buy, and it will get up early to get his, because the rays could be emptied before the end of the day, according to the buzz on the Internet. The wireless models are $ 499 to $ 699. It was not until the end of April if we are interested to 3G versions, the price will go up to $ 829.
They are not only two signs that are preparing to light.Speculation is also rife on the Web according to PCWorld magazine. Taking advantage of the predicted shortage, some simple pre-booking their offer to $ 100 on sites like Craigslist, others have started their iPad on eBay at $ 700 instead of 500. These deals seem even more doubtful that Apple, as usual, organized the launch of its latest gadget in the greatest secrecy. The employees, including technicians to repair the supposed object in case of failure, had still not seen the tablet this week.
5 to 6 million sales?
The bookmakers are already on their paris sales volume by the end of the year: 5 to 6 million, maybe more. To entice buyers, Apple has guided the launch eleven new iPad applications on its site, including Safari, Keynote, YouTube, iTunes and irresistible iBooks, which may well dethrone the Amazon Kindle.If even two months ago, we doubted the potential of Apple's latest invention, now we only speak of it. Advertisers flock to the advertising pages of publishers whose applications will be available on Saturday, as Time Magazine, The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. FedEx has purchased 90 days exclusively on applications of Reuters and Newsweek.
The reviews coming out are largely positive. A few handfuls of journalists across the U.S. have played for a few days in secret with the tablet. For most, the iPad is a single iPod or eBook. The New York Times predicted that the techies will hate but the general public will love.
In any case, Apple continues to generate humor. The tablet on behalf biased in English (mean pad pad) is suitable for two months parodies the most diverse.The latest is a "tablet" Doritos (the chips). A real hit on the Facebook page for fans of the true shelf.
NRJ Group may blow. In a difficult economic environment in 2009, the broadcasting group announced on Thursday a return to the green with a net profit of 6.8 million euros against a loss of 4.6 million euros in 2008. Revenues excluding exchange operations declining slightly by 0.4% to 330 million euros. The news, however, may not be appreciated by the markets. These projected a net profit of 15 million euros.
For its part, NRJ Group is satisfied with these results. The group managed to improve its operating performance with a net operating profit up sharply from 38% to 25.4 million.Operating income for the handset business, which had sealed the results of their 2008 deficit of 9.5 million, were not disclosed.
Cleopatra and the TNT derive results
NRJ Group finds particularly strong improvement in the poles and television shows. The first saw its revenues rise by 75.6% to 43.9 million euros through the two channels of the TNT NRJ 12 (third string DTT) and NRJ Paris. The group managed to reduce its operating loss in this sector to 15.8 million against a 22.7 million.
The cluster performance makes the best performance with an increase of 712% of its revenues in 2009 to 26.8 million euros against 3.3 million the year before us fast cash !!!???!!!?? ?!!!."This strong growth mainly due to the success of the musical Cleopatra whose contribution to consolidated sales amounted to 25.0 million euros in 2009 compared to 0.5 million euros in 2008" , the company said.
In contrast, the pole Media music has suffered a fall of 15.7% of its revenues to 197.9 million euros.International operations also saw their incomes fall by 9%.
The title leads the DTH
For 2010, the group was cautious in a "fragile economic environment" and a "visibility remains low.
But positive signals are detected including "an improving trend on advertising revenues in March, thanks to sales growth in Radio France, which could therefore register growth in the first quarter of 2010 compared 1st Quarter 2009 ".
"In television, the trend remains strongly positive since the beginning of the year," the statement concluded.
At the Paris Stock Exchange, Friday, NRJ shares rose 12.01% to 7.18 euros, the largest increase in DTH in a market that yields 0.10%.
The mobilization will she go in this Tuesday, two days in a large loss of the right in regional elections? Six unions (CFDT, CGT, FOR, FSU, UNSA, Solidaires) called on employees of public and private to a national day of action aimed at influencing government policy on political and social. If it comes shortly after the regional elections, the appointment union had however taken immediately after the Social Summit in February, meeting at the initiative of the Head of State to discuss, among other things, the upcoming construction of the reform pensions.
Tuesday afternoon, thousands of demonstrators began to march throughout France. If the number of participants were not recorded in Paris, 10,000 people marched in Nantes by the CGT, the police still had no figures available. They were at Le Mans 7000, according to police, 2000 in Vannes, according to unions.In Rennes, the mobilization seemed weaker. Also according to police, Lyon accounted as 10,000 demonstrators, Grenoble 5000, and Saint-Etienne 4400.
The strike of civil servants was also relatively followed in mid-day. The department estimated that 21% the proportion of striking teachers, estimated at 40% for the SNES-FSU, a rate higher than the previous mobilizations. 11.45% of the postal employees were also mobilized by the leadership. At the station, the strike rate was estimated at 28% by management, and 32% by the CGT. At RATP, it would amount to 14% depending on the direction, the CGT-RATP not yet have figures to communicate.
Pension reform crystallized discontent
Two main points today crystallize opposition from unions, following a government reshuffle.
• Pensions: major point of contention between the unions and the government, the pension reform was launched at the Social Summit in February. While the dialogue should begin early April, several union leaders have spoken about this on Tuesday, sending a warning to the government. The CFDT leader Francois Ch?r?que has called for a reform that reduces inequality. "Of course we must change our pension system, but it does not evolve towards greater social justice, this is again a loss of confidence in politics" best payday advance !!!???!!!?? ?!!!. Therefore, it could "be the sport at a social level," he warns.Jean-Claude Mailly, secretary general of FP, for his part reiterated on Tuesday his commitment to the LCI retirement at age 60, holding "absurd" the solution of longer working hours to alleviate the funding problems induced by the lengthening of life expectancy. "If we follow this logic, women live longer should work longer," he argued. As for Bernard Thibault, leader of the CGT, he believes "we can not impose reform on accounting criteria exclusively, also challenging the objectivity of the Advisory Committee of pensions. "This appointment will be very difficult to carry," he predicted. Probably heard a speech by the new Labor Minister, Eric Woerth, who insisted on Tuesday on the need to "protect" the current system "an equitable reform.
• Employment: while the unemployment rate back above the 10% in the fourth quarter of 2009, the CFDT called for taking further steps to assist employees affected by the crisis. Pleading for an appeal to partial unemployment, training rather than dismissal, the leader of the CFDT has also called for financial support purchasing power and resources center for sustainable employment. The employees "have the feeling that we no longer speak of their real situation since September. An impression they would have in his Sunday expressed through the ballot box. The government must now "give strong signals, and change of method," he said. A view shared by the leader of the CGT, Bernard Thibault, who on Tuesday urged the convening of a new social summit at the Elysee.The meeting, a time desired by the head of state says he would aim to "take stock of the situation regarding employment, economic and social policy and purchasing power for practical decisions for implementing fast.
As expected, the increase in U.S. indices is very shy. Investors are always in effect evidence of caution before the publication of several major macroeconomic indicators. In early trading, the Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 advanced 0.04% to 10,572 points and 0.01% at 2340 points. Tuesday after a turbulent session, the U.S. stock markets finished slightly higher, the Nasdaq has shackled its tenth session in the green.
The next U.S. statistics are expected Wednesday, with the traditional weekly report on unemployment, wholesale inventories in January and after closing the federal budget in February.Weekly Market in the United States, will then be placed under the sign consumer with the publication tomorrow of the sales details for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.
Oil finished down slightly on Tuesday on the New York market, falling from a high of eight weeks, the April contract closed down 0.5%, to 81.49 dollars, penalized by a stronger currency U.S..
AIG rise another 12%
On the side of values, the insurance giant AIG, which forced march to advance its restructuring was awarded 13% Saturday and climbed again this Wednesday, from 12.57% to 36.89 dollars. Traders welcomed the efforts made by the insurance company to reimburse the state aid, a shareholder at 80%. The group conducted a series of steep cuts to enable it to garner around 25 billion dollars.
Citigroup allows itself for its 4.19% to 3.98 dollars after yesterday awarded more than 7.5%. The state could sell shares in the bank.
United Airlines has announced a growth of 18% of its turnover in passenger transport on February. The president said the group observed clear signs of renewed activity. Note, however, the snowstorms have affected the company announced a loss of 40 million due to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. The securities are 3.69% on Wednesday to 18.83 dollars.
Facet Biotech Corp. has accepted the takeover offer made by Abbott Laboratories, priced at $ 27 per title, a cash offer totaling $ 450 million. Direct impact on the stock market: Facet Biotech Corp. explodes from 66.19% to 26.94 dollars.Abbott remains in equilibrium.
Cisco on Tuesday claimed a major milestone in the conquest of Internet connections at very high rates, presenting a new router overkill.
Economic conditions continued to improve in the United States in January-February, "although harsh snowstorms in early February have dampened activity in several regions," according to the Beige Book released Wednesday by the U.S. central bank (Fed).
The document states that the activity has increased in nine of the twelve regions (by cutting the Fed), but that "in most cases, these improvements were small.
The information provided by the Beige Book are very important because they serve as a reference to the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Fed scheduled for March 16, which will decide on changes in interest rates.
Regarding the labor market, for which the Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, gave recently bleak outlook before Congress, the document notes that "the pace of layoffs has slowed in most regions, but that hiring plans of companies remain "soft in general."
As for expenditure on household consumption, traditional engine of growth of the country which is struggling to regain its role, they "grew slightly in many areas, but have been hampered in some by the snowfalls of early check cash advance